By Richard L, Williams, TeleMation, Inc.
Proper utilization of good staging principles is one of the most important earmarks of a professional television production, It is surprising to find, therefore, that very little has been written to instruct television directors in good staging practices.
The definition of television staging to be used in this article is quite simple: Staging is the placement of visual elements in the TV studio--both that which the viewer will see and that which will affect how he sees the scene. This includes props (anything in the foreground) and scenery (anything in the background), as well as the talent and the cameras.
Unfortunately, there is no single set of staging rules that works for every situation. The television director must consider staging a production from aesthetic (or artistic), psychological, and practical points of view. Oftentimes, the best psychological effect is not practical to produce with the equipment available. Nor may a very artistic staging be possible with a limited production system. It is the job of the director to consider every aspect of the situation and to reach a compromise which will most closely produce the desired effect.